Drafting board



April 18, 1961 c. H. LITTLE 2,979,823

DRAFTING BOARD Filed March 29, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I

IN V EN TOR. CHARLES HUBBARD LITTLE ATTORNEYS April 18, 1961 H LI TL2,979,823

DRAFTING BOARD Filed March 29, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. H66CHARLES HUBBARD LITTLE BY M,

ATTORNEYS Uited States Patent DRAFTING BOARD Charles Hubbard Little,Chagrin Falls, Ohio (3031 Edgewood Road, Pepper Pike Village, Cleveland,Ohio) Filed Mar. 29, 1955, Ser. No. 497,763

7 Claims. (Cl. 33-79) The present invention relates to drafting devicesand, more particularly, to a portable drafting device comprising aparallel motion drafting machine mounted for use on a. folding memberproviding a surface suitable for drafting purposes.

The principal object of the present invention is the provision of a newand improved portable drafting device comprising members positionable toform a planar working surface for use in drafting, and a draftingmachine, preferably of the two-section, parallel motion type, secured toone of the members, the device being so constructed and arranged thatthe members forming the working surface used for drafting may be foldedor otherwise collapsed without removing the drafting machine from themember to which it is attached to form a readily portable, andconveniently stored, compact unit suitable for use wherever there is adesk, table or work bench in office, plant, home, hotel room, etc.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a new andimproved drafting device comprising members positionable to form asurface for drafting, a drafting machine supported on one side of one ofthe members for movement over the surface for drafting, and legs orother means on another side to tilt the members toward the user, themembers being foldable or otherwise collapsible, without removing thedrafting machine, into a small, compact unit which is readily stowableand transportable and adapted for use on a desk top or the like.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a new andimproved drafting device comprising members positionable to form asurface for drafting, a drafting machine on one of the members, and legsdepending from oneside of the members to tilt the working surface towardthe user, the members being foldable without removing the draftingmachine, and the legs being collapsible upon the folding of'the membersand movable to operative position upon the unfolding of the members.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a new andimproved portable drafting device of the character referred to andcomprising means tending to prevent movement of the device from eitherits extended or unfolded position or its collapsed or folded position.

The invention resides in certain constructions and combinations andarrangements of parts, and further objects and advantages will beapparent to those skilled in the art to which it relates from thefollowing description of the preferred embodiment described withreference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of thisspecification, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a drafting device embodying the presentinvention;

Patented Apr. 18, 1961 Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view of the deviceof Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the device of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the device of Fig. l

in a partly folded position;

Fig. 5 is an end elevational view of the device of Fig. 1 in a foldedposition;

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of the device of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a detached fragmentary plan view of a scale of the device ofFig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken approximately along line 88of Fig. 1;

Fig. 9 is a view taken approximately along line 9-9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view taken approximately along line1010 of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view taken approximately along line1111 of Fig. 6.

While the present invention is susceptible of various modifications andalternative constructions and arrangements, the preferred embodimentillustrated in the drawing generally comprises board-like members 10, 11having planar sides 12, 13 adapted to be positioned in the same plane toform a drafting surface, and a parallel motion drafting machine B of thetwo-section wheel and band type secured adjacent to an edge of theboard-like member 10 remotely from the edge of the board-like member 10adjacent to the board-like member 11 when their planar sides 12, 13 arein the same plane. In the illustrated embodiment, the drafting machine Bis fastened to the board-like member 10 adjacent to its upper left handcomer, as viewed in Fig. 1, by a member 14 fixed to the side 12 of themember 10 adjacent to its upper left hand corner, as by screws, andhaving an upstanding split socket 15 adapted to receive an anchor memberor stud 16 of the anchor assembly of the machine, the other end of themachine B being provided with an instrument head 17 which is movableover the planar side 12 of the board-like member 10 and also over theside 13 of member 11 when positioned coplanarly with the side 12 ofmember 10 to form a drafting surface. The stud 16 may be clamped againstrotation in the socket '15 by tightening a clamp screw 18 for the socket15 and may be adjusted vertically or removed from the socket byloosening the clamp screw. The two sections of the drafting machine Bare designated by the reference numerals 19, 20, respectively, and arejoined by an elbow 21 in a conventional manner.

In the illustrated embodiment, a pair of scales 22, 23 are chucked inthe instrument head 17 with the scales extending in perpendicularlyrelated directions. The scales 22, 23 are supported by perpendicularlyrelated arms 24, 25, respectively, of an angularly adjustable member 26constituting a part of the instrument head 17. Each scale preferably hasa conventional beveled edge provided with indicia 27. The arm 24 carriesa lockscrew 28 for securely fastening the scale 22 to the arm, thelockscrew 28 being positioned approximately on the center line of thearm 24 and received in a tapped hole 29 in the scale adjacent the innerend thereof. The scale 22 is maintained in proper alignment with respectto the arm 24, preferably by a pair of spaced, aligned, elongatedprojections or feet 39 depending from the underside of the arm 24 andreceived in a longitudinally scale.

The groove 31 in the side having the beveled edge is positioned, in theillustrated embodiment, so that when the scale is chucked with that sideuppermost, the beveled edge may be used for penciling a drawing whilethe groove 31 in the other side of the scale is positioned so that whenthe scale is chucked with that side uppermost, the edge opposite thebeveled edge may be used as a straight edge for inking a drawing.

An abutment portion 32 depends from the arm Hand is provided with .afiat, smooth surface 34 adapted to engage the uppermost side of thescale 22. The aligned ,projections or feet 3% are spaced lengthwise andlocated above the center line of the arm '24 and'the abutment portion 32is positioned on the opposite side of the center line of the arm 24 andis adapted to cooperate with the feet 30 in properly positioning thescale 22 relative to the arm 24-.

In chucking the scale 22 in the arm 24, the, groove 31 in the uppermostside of the scale is aligned with the feet 30 of the arm 24 and thescale moved inwardly until its inner end strikes a stop member 35depending from the underside of arm 24. The stop member 35 extends agreater distance from the underside of the arm 24 than the feet 3% sothat the instrument head rests on the stop member when the scales areremoved. The stop member, however, is not so long that it extends beyondthe scale 22 when the latter is chucked in the instrument head.

The scale 23 and the arm 25 are of the same construction as the scale 22and the arm 24 and will not be described in detail and sulfice it to saythat the corresponding parts are designated by the same referencecharacters with a prime mark appended thereto.

The construction just referred to for chucking thescales 22,. 23 to thechuck arms 24, 25 provides a simple arrangement for assuring that theruling or marking edges of the scales 22, 23 are at right angles to eachother when chucked. In manufacturing the device, it is only necessary tocut the grooves 31 in the scale parallel to the longitudinal edgesthereof and to machine the feet of the arms 24, 25 so that they liealong respective lines which are perpendicular to each other. a

The members 10, 11 are connected together by a suitable hinge 36comprising, in the preferred embodiment, two L-shaped members 37, 38 anda pintle hinge pin 40. One leg of the L-shaped hinge member 37 issecured to the board-like member 10, while one leg of the hinge member38 is secured to the other board-like member 11. The other legs of thehinge members 37, 38 extend perpendicularly to the members 10, 11 in adepending direction and are hinged together by the hinge pin 40 in themanner of a conventional piano hinge. The hinge 36 permits the members10, 11 to be folded from an edge to edge position with their planarsides 12, 13 in a common plane where they form a working surfacesuitable for use in drafting to a folded or juxtaposed position wherethe members It), 11 are side-by-side with the underside of each memberbeing adjacent to each other.

When the board is to be collapsed or folded to the po: sition shown inFig. for transportation or storage, the scales 22, '23 are removed andthe free end of the drafting machine B is secured against movement. Forfastening the free end of the drafting machine B, the illustratedembodiment includes a bushing or sleeve 42 movably supported in a bore43 extending through the member 10 adjacent the upper right-hand cornerthereof, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 4. The sleeve 42 is preferably of alength which is greater than the thickness of member 10 and is normallypositioned in the bore with the lower end thereof extending rom theunderside of the member 10 and the upper end thereof within the bore 43.The sleeve 42 is normally held in this position by means of a leaf.spring 44 secured to the underside of member 10. When it is desired tofasten the free end of the drafting machine B against movement, the,scale 23 is removed from the arm 25, and the screw 28, normally securingthe Scale 23 to the arm 25, is threadedinto the sleeve -42.

It will be noted that the length of the lockscrew 28' is shorter thanthat length necessary to securely thread into a bushing if the upper endof the bushing were merely flush with the drafting surface since thescrew cannot extend below the lower side of a scale when the machine isin use. The mounting for the sleeve 42 permits the sleeve to be pushedupwardly above the side 12 of the member 10 and the lockscrew to bethreaded into the sleeve a sufiicient distance to assure that thedrafting machine will be securely held against movement.

A spring 46 is connected between the members 10 and 11 in such a mannerthat it will tend to oppose movement of the board from its folded orunfolded position. Referring to Fig. 11, one end of the spring isconnected to the underside of member 11 at a point a sub stantialdistance from the edge of member 11 adjacent to the member 10 by aneye-bolt 47 of a length less than the width of the depending legs ofhinge members 37, 38. The other end of the spring is connected to themember 10 at a point adjacent to the edge thereof adjacent to the member11. The connection between the spring 46 and the member 10, in theillustrated embodiment, is accomplished by looping the end of the springover a struck-out portion 48 'of the hinge member 37, the portion 48extending substantially perpendicularly to the member 19. The connectionof the spring to the pore ticn 48 is intermediate the hinge pin 40 andthe 'members 10, 11. Connecting the spring 46 in the manner describedwill cause the spring to act as an over-center mechanism and tend tooppose movement of the drafting board from its folded or its unfoldedposition.

The drafting surface formed by the sides 12, 13 of members 10 and 11 ispreferably adapted to be tilted toward the user of the device as byspaced legs 50, 51, connected to the underside of members 10, 11,respectively, adjacent the edge thereof normally remote from the user.The leg 50 is illustrated as being pivotally secured to a bracket 52 onthe underside of member 10 by a pivot pin 53 with the end of the legbeing bifurcated so as to straddle the bracket. The leg 51 is secured tothe underside of the member 11 in a similar manner by means of a bracket54 and a pivot pin 55.

The legs 50, 51 are prevented from collapsing by links 57, 58 eachhaving one end pivotally connected to the legs 50, 51, respectively, andtheir other ends connected, respectively, to the underside of members11, 10 by brackets 60, 61 located adjacent to the abutting edges of themembers 10 and 11. Preferably, the links 57, 58 are of a length whichwill cause the legs 50 and 51 to diverge outwardly toward the adjacentside edge of the drafting board from their point of connection to theunderside of the board.

When the folding movement of the members takes place, the links 57, 58will cause the legs 50, 51 to move toward the underside of the members10, 11 as the board is collapsed. When the board is fully folded, thelegs 50, 51 preferably extend generally parallel with the members 10, 11to form a compact, readily portable unit. It will be seen that the legsof the hinge members 37, 38 which extend perpendicularly to the draftingboard preferably have a width substantially equal to that of thebrackets 52, 54, 60, 61 so that when in a folded position, there will besufficient distance between the members 10 and 11 to permit the members10 and 11 to be positioned parallel to each other.

It is possible to provide a surface suitable for drafting which is 21" x23 /2" and which, When folded, will measure 11%" x 21" by constructing adrafting device according to the present invention. The dimensions of11%" x 21" permit the drafting device to be readily stored in a deskdrawer, making it convenient for the drafting device to be removed froma desk top where it has been in use to an out-of-the-way location. Thefolded size of a drafting device constructed according to the presentinvention also permits the device to be positioned inside a medium sizecarrying case to facilitate the transportation thereof when it is to beused in various locations.

It may now be seen that the present invention provides a drafting devicewhich is readily portable and which can be used wherever there is adesk, table or work bench in oflice, plant, home, hotel room or store.The device is so constructed and arranged that it may be readily storedin a convenient location, such as a desk drawer or placed into asuitcase or other carrying case for transporting it to variouslocations. The drafting device may be quickly set up by merely unfoldingthe members and 11 to an abutting, edge to edge position,

7 releasing and unfastening the movable end of the drafting machine B,and chucking the scales in the arms 24, 25.

While-the preferred form of the invention has been described inconsiderable detail, it will be apparent that the invention is notlimited to the constructions shown or the uses referred to. As anexample of one modification which may be made in the embodiment shown,the points of attachment of the anchor and ruler supporting members tothe member 10 may be interchanged and the parallel motion arm reversedwhen it is desired to store the drafting device. It is my intention tocover hereby not only the modifications heretofore mentioned but alladaptations, modifications and changes in the embodiment shown whichcome within the practice of those skilled in the art to which theinvention relates and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A drafting device comprising a plurality of members each having atleast one planar side, means connecting said members for movementselectively between a juxtaposed or side by side position and an edge toedge position with their planar surfaces in the same plane, a parallelmotion arm type drafting machine having an anchor member adjacent to'oneend and a ruler supporting member adjacent to the other end, meansattaching said anchor member to one of said members adjacent to an edgeof its said planar surface removed from the other of said members whensaid members are edge to edge, and means for detachably connecting saidruler supporting member to said member having the anchor member attachedtheretoadjacent to the edge of said planar surface adjoining said othermember when said members are edge to edge, said last-named meanscomprising an internally threaded bushing slidably supported in a boreopening into said planar side of said member and biased to a positionbelow said planar side.

2. A drafting device comprising a plurality of members each having atleast one planar side, means connecting said members for movementselectively between a juxtaposed or side by side position and an edge toedge position with their planar surfaces in the same plane, a parallelmotion arm type drafting machine having an anchor member adjacent to oneend and a ruler supporting member adjacent to the other end, and meansattaching said anchor member to one of said members, said rulersupporting member comprising an arm having spaced aligned lugs dependingtherefrom and adapted to be received in a longitudinally extendinggroove in the ruler to be supported, a stop member depending from saidarm inwardly of said lugs for limiting the inward movement of the rulerwith respect to said arm, and a portion depending from said arm to oneside of said lugs and having a fiat smooth surface adapted to engage theside of the ruler adjacent to said arm.

3. In a drafting machine, a ruler supporting member comprising an armhaving spaced aligned lugs depending therefrom and adapted to bereceived in a longitudinally extending groove in the ruler to 'besupported, a stop member depending from said arm inwardly of said lugsfor limiting the inward movement of the ruler with respect to said arm,and a portion depending from said arm to one side of said lugs andhaving a flat smooth surface adapted to engage the side of the ruleradjacent to said arm.

4. A drafting device comprising first and second generally rectangularmembers each having a planar side, means connecting said memberstogether for movement selectively between a side-'by-side position withone over,- lying the other and an edge-to-edge position with said firstmember on the left of said second member and with their planar surfacesin the same plane, a parallel motion arm-type drafting machine having ananchor member at one end and a ruler supporting member at the other end,means attaching said anchor member of said drafting machine to saidfirst member adjacent to its upper left hand corner, and means normallyun obstructing said planar surface of said first member for detachablyconnecting said ruler supporting member to said first member adjacent toits upper right-hand corner.

5. A drafting device comprising first and second generally rectangularmembers each having a planar side, means connecting said memberstogether for movement selectively between a side-by-side position withone overlying the other and an edge-to-edge position with said firstmember on the left of said second member and with their planar surfacesin the same plane, means biasing said members in said respectivepositions, a parallel motion arm-type drafting machine having an anchormember at one end and a ruler supporting member at the other end, meansattaching said anchor member of said drafting machine to said firstmember adjacent to its upper left hand corner, and means normallyunobstructing said planar surface of said first member for detachablyconnecting said ruler supporting member to said first member adjacent toits upper right-hand corner.

6. A drafting device comprising first and second generally rectangularboard-like members each having a planar side, hinge means connectingsaid board-like members together for movement between a side-by-sideposition with one overlying the other and an edge-to-edge position withsaid first board-like member on the left of said second board-likemember and with their planar surfaces in the same plane, each of saidboard-like members having a supporting member pivotally connected to theside thereof opposite its said planar surface and adjacent to one endthereof, and a link pivotally connected between each of said supportingmembers and said boardlike member to which it is pivoted, the lengths ofsaid links being such that said supporting members project outwardlyfrom the plane of said board-like members when said board-like membersare in edge-to-edge position and lie parallel therewith when saidboard-like members are in side-by-side position, a parallel motionarmtype drafting machine having an anchor member at one end and a rulersupporting member at the other end, means attaching said anchor memberto said first board-like member adjacent to the corner thereof remotefrom said second board-like member and at the end thereof to which saidsupporting member is attached, and means normally unobstructing saidplanar surface of said first member for detachably connecting said rulersupporting member to said first board-like member adjacent to the othercorner thereof at the end thereof to which said supporting member isattached.

7. A drafting device comprising first and second generally rectangularboard-like members each having a planar side, hinge means connectingsaid board-like members together for movement between a side-by-sideposition with one overlying the other and an edge-to-edge position withsaid first board-like member on the left of said second board-likemember and with their planar surfaces in the same plane, each of saidboard-like members having a supporting member pivotally connected to theside thereof opposite its said planar surface and adjacent to one endthereof, and a link pivotally connected between each of said supportingmembers and said boardlike member to which it is pivoted, the lengths ofsaid links being such that said supporting members project outwardlyfrom the plane of said board-like members when said board-like membersare in edge-to-edge position, and lie parallel therewith when saidboard-like members are in side-by-side position, means for yieldablyholding said board-like members in said positions, a parallel motionarm-type drafting machine having an anchor member at one end and a rulersupporting member at the other end, means attaching said anchor memberto said first board-like member adjacent to the corner thereof remotefrom said second board-like member and at the end thereof to which saidsupporting member is attached, and means normally unobstructing saidplanar surface of said first member for detachably connecting said rulersupporting member to said first board-like member adjacent to the othercorner thereof at the end thereof to which said supporting member isattached.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Little,Dec. 12, 1916 Porrazzo Ian. 2, 1917 Chackes et a1. July 14, 1931Dreifuss Oct. 18, 1932 Little May 16, 1933 Wallace Aug. 18, 1936Greenle'af et a1 May 10, 1938 Covucci May 31, 1955 Howe Dec. 6, 1955FOREIGN PATENTS Germany July 31, 1897 Great Britain June 14, 1928 ItalyJune 10, 1937 Switzerland Sept. 16, 1948

